Best optics for 17hh

[bburrell]

Its the end of the year and I am sitting here trying to match rifles and calibers up with the right scope. I can't quite figure out what to put on my 17hh. I started out with a vortex viper 6.5x20 but ended up moving that scope over to a .204 I am working on. That left my 17 scopeless. I've been shopping for a new scope but can't quite settle on the right one. I know that a lot depends on how this little caliber will be used. Since this caliber is one step above my rimfire guns I go back and forth between something I would put on a rimfire and something I would put on a little bit larger centerfire - like my .204. Likewise, my budget goes from under $200 to over $600 depending on the time of day and phase of the moon. Thought that i would take a survey and see what others have done. What optics (and why) did you decide to put on your 17hh (or 17ah), What power range, what reticle, and finally what is your primary use (squirrels at 100 yds, coyotes at 200 yds, prairie dogs at 400 yds. etc.).

[rickiesrevenge]

I have a 6-18x40 on my17ah now. When I was using it for calling coyotes I had a 3-9x40 on it. The extra magnification helps while prairie doggin'.

Aaron

[bburrell]

I have thought about using two different scopes on this rifle - one for prairie dogs and the other for winter coyotes. It only takes a few minutes to remount a scope and about 15 minutes at the range to re-zero.

What brand scopes are you using and how effective is that 17 on coyotes. I live in utah and get shots from 35 feet to 400+ yards, so I am more inclined to use my .204 just in case I only get a long shot.

[rickiesrevenge]

Both are leupolds. I think the 17ah is a 150 yard coyote gun, 200 max.

[glennlasher]

I put a 6-18 Nikon Buckmaster on mine, anticipating PD shoots. It seems to be "just right", and Midway often puts them on sale at around the $300 mark (depending on reticle). It's bulky, but good optically, and it comes with a sunshade and alternate turrets.

[bburrell]

I looked at a buckmaster on Tuesday. They seemed brighter than the Redfield I also looked at. The cross hair was fairly thick and made me wonder how it would work on small targets (translation: prairie dog heads) at a distance. Which cross hair did you select.

[Esoteric Junkie]

Bburrell,
If you cannot see it you cannot hit it!!! Always choose resolution over magnification. I have hit many prairie dogs at 500+ yards using a scopes on 6 power (17 Mach IV and other small calibers). I have owned most quality scopes (Leupold MKIV + LRT, Nightforce, Sightron, Swarovski, Unertl, etc). Going forward I am only buying Sightron. A good friend of mine works at Sightron and he has all the optical test equipment to test any scope, which we have done. Hands down the Sightron is the best value on the market, period! The Big Sky III offers Nightforce quality (resolution, repeatability, etc) for about 2/3 the price (retail). I have many 6-24x scopes and when shooting prairie dogs the magnification is usually on 10-16x. Too much magnification reduces the field of view, which is very important when those little critters start to charge or run off in all directions. It is often difficult to follow the little critters when shucking the bolt or inserting a magazine when the power is too high and field of view too narrow.

EJ